Government expenditure towards treatment and prevention for the COVID-19 pandemic so far is over Rs. 138 billion and in addition to minimizing the economic impact several moratoria too were initiated by the Central Banks State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.
He said that a serious dialogue has arisen in society regarding government expenditure on behalf of the Covid-19 pandemic and to answer these he presented a detailed explanation in parliament on May 18.
“The government has spent Rs. 96.1 billion as direct COVID-19 related expenditure for 2020 and a further Rs. 41.9 billion up to May 17 on C-19 related expenses.
“A sum of Rs. 56,593 million has been spent on providing low-income earning families who suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic in the months of April and May an allowance of Rs. 5,000 and in April 2021 Rs. 14,000 million was allocated for the control of the pandemic,” the State Minister said explaining the financial provisions for the control of the Covid outbreak.
He also said that in 2020 Rs. 29,045 for quarantine arrangements, health infrastructure facilities, pharmaceuticals and supplies etc. had been spent while up to now in 2021 a sum of Rs. 17,743 million has been disbursed.
In addition, the Minister emphasized that Rs. 3,800 million had been allocated to the education sector for providing facilities for Covid prevention.
In October and November of 2020, the government had spent a sum of Rs. 7,073 million for providing relief through District Secretariat offices, to people in the districts of Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Batticaloa and Ratnapura affected by the second wave of the Covid outbreak.
Also, Rs. 2,846 million has been allocated to distribute essential food items valued at Rs. 10,000 to people of each family under quarantine in their own homes. “At the same time in 2020 and up to now in 2021, sums of Rs. 102 million and Rs. 2,658 million respectively, have been provided to District Secretariats by the government to give relief to people affected by Covid-19 spreading again”, the State Minister reiterated. (SS)
0 comments: